WO2023110442A1

WO2023110442A1 - Motor vehicle locking device

Info

Publication number: WO2023110442A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/084109
Authority: WO
Inventors: Armin Handke
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2021-12-14
Filing date: 2022-12-01
Publication date: 2023-06-22
Also published as: DE102021133115A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle locking device which is equipped with a coupling arrangement (2, 4) consisting essentially of an actuating lever (4) and a release lever (2) that can be coupled releasably thereto. The actuating lever (4) and the release lever (2) can be coupled to one another starting from an uncoupled basic position by a two-stroke actuation of the actuating lever (4). An accumulator lever (9) storing the first stroke of the operating lever (4) is additionally provided so that, during its second stroke, the operating lever (4) can act upon the release lever (2) that follows the accumulation lever (9). According to the invention, a safety lever (6) is provided as a complement, which suppresses in its "secured" position a subsequent movement of the release lever (2) during the second stroke of the actuating lever (4) and permits said movement in its "unsecured" position.

Description

Motor vehicle locking device

Description:

The invention relates to a motor vehicle locking device, with a coupling arrangement consisting essentially of an actuating lever and a release lever that can be detachably coupled to it, wherein the actuating lever and the release lever can be coupled to one another, starting from a disengaged basic position, by a two-stroke actuation of the actuating lever, and wherein a first stroke of the Actuating lever is provided storing memory lever, so that the actuating lever can act upon the release lever following the storage lever in its second stroke.

Motor vehicle locking devices with coupling arrangements consisting essentially of an actuating lever and a release lever that can be detachably coupled thereto are often used as a motor vehicle locking device in connection with the realization of an internal actuating lever chain in motor vehicle locks. Of course, this is not restrictive. In any case, such internal actuating lever chains are often acted upon in so-called two-stroke operation for safety reasons. The first stroke of the actuating lever serves to unlock the motor vehicle lock and in particular the motor vehicle door lock. In the second stroke, a locking mechanism provided at the end of the actuating lever chain and previously closed is opened. This prevents unintentional door openings, which increases security.

In the case of the generic prior art according to DE 10 2020 113 992 A1, the design is made for this purpose in such a way that the first stroke of the actuating lever is stored using the storage lever. As a result of this, the actuating lever can act on the release lever during its second stroke. For this purpose, a locking element is provided, with the help of a

resolvable storage position of the storage lever can be realized. In this way, a motor vehicle locking device is made available overall with little technological outlay. This has basically worked.

In the case of such internal actuating lever chains, what is known as a child safety function can often also be implemented, particularly on rear motor vehicle side doors. This corresponds to the inside actuating lever chain being activated or deactivated as desired. The last-mentioned condition of an ineffective internal control lever chain corresponds to the "child-proof" position, whereas the "child-unlocked" condition is observed with an effective internal control lever chain. In particular in the last-mentioned functional position “child unlocked”, the procedure is regularly such that when the actuating lever is acted upon, the locking mechanism opens as soon as it is lifted for the first time.

In other words, there have been no convincing approaches in the prior art to combine the described two-stroke actuation with a safety function in such a way that the usual two-stroke actuation is still required, even when the safety is unlocked, in order to ultimately open the locking mechanism can. The lack of this functionality may confuse or irritate users. This is where the invention aims to remedy the situation overall.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle locking device in such a way that the usual two-stroke actuation can be retained even if a safety function or safety unit is additionally implemented.

To solve this technical problem, the invention, based on a generic motor vehicle locking device, proposes within the scope of the invention that a safety lever is additionally provided which, in its "secured" position, prevents a subsequent movement of the release lever during the second stroke of the actuating lever and in its "position" unlocked" allows.

Within the scope of the invention, the securing lever is therefore firstly and additionally realized in addition to the clutch arrangement consisting essentially of the actuating lever and the release lever that can be detachably coupled to it, as well as the storage lever. The safety lever can be part of a safety unit. This security unit may be non-limitingly a child security unit. In principle, however, the security unit can also be a locking unit, an anti-theft device or a combination.

The design within the scope of the invention is such that the safety lever in its “secured” position prevents the subsequent movement of the release lever during the second stroke of the actuating lever. This means that when the safety lever is in the "secured" position, the actuating lever still performs the first stroke unchanged. During this first stroke, however, the storage lever does not assume a storage position to be explained in more detail below when the safety lever is in the “secured” position. As a result, during the second stroke of the actuating lever, the release lever cannot follow the storage lever either and accordingly open the locking mechanism. According to the invention, such a subsequent movement of the release lever during the second stroke of the actuating lever is only possible if the safety lever assumes its “unlocked” position.

As a result, even the “unlocked” position of the safety lever within the scope of the invention requires that, as before and unchanged, the storage lever first moves into its storage position on the first stroke of the actuating lever. This is expressly permitted in the "unlocked" position of the safety lever and at least temporarily assumed. As a result, in this "unlocked" position of the safety lever, the second stroke of the actuating lever means that during this second stroke the release lever can now follow the storage lever and consequently also the actuating lever, so that as a result of this the previously closed locking mechanism is opened via the release lever. This is unusual in itself, because normally in the "unlocked" position of the safety lever and thus of an associated safety unit, a first and single stroke actuation of the operating lever immediately opens the locking mechanism.

According to the invention, however, the two-stroke actuation described is still required for this and unchanged. As a result, nothing changes for an operator, whether he acts on a front motor vehicle side door, for example, with the described two-stroke actuation and without an additional safety lever within the meaning of the invention, or the rear motor vehicle side door. This means that the operation has remained the same with the additional inclusion of a child safety function, for example.

In all of these cases, after the two-stroke actuation on the part of the actuating lever, the motor vehicle locking device is reset to its starting position, so that irritation of the user is avoided in this respect as well. In addition, the safety lever can advantageously be acted upon manually and/or by an electric motor, so that the motor vehicle

Closing devices or motor vehicle door locks can easily be synchronized on each rear motor vehicle side doors. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

In general, the further design is such that the safety lever interacts with a latching element which is set up to implement the previously described and releasable storage position of the storage lever. For this purpose, the safety lever usually has a carrier contour. With the help of the entrainment contour, the locking element in question can experience an impact on the part of the safety lever. In fact, the procedure here is usually such that the safety lever transfers and can transfer the latching element via the entrainment contour from a latching position permitting the storage position of the storage lever to a release position preventing the storage position and vice versa.

In order to move the safety lever into its two positions "secured" and "unsecured", an additional stop contour is usually also provided. The stop contour of the safety lever is designed to interact with a handle and/or an electric motor drive. In this way, the safety lever can easily be transferred to its desired functional position “secured” or “unsecured” manually, for example, via the handle or by remote control via the electric motor drive or by both procedures.

As already explained, the "secured" position of the safety lever corresponds to the fact that the release lever cannot follow the second stroke of the actuating lever, and the locking mechanism is closed accordingly

is not opened. In contrast, the “unlocked” position of the safety lever corresponds to the release lever following the stroke of the actuating lever during the second stroke of the actuating lever and opening the locking mechanism accordingly. For this purpose, the acted upon release lever usually works on a pawl as part of the locking mechanism made up of pawl and rotary latch. Since the pawl is in latching engagement with the rotary latch when the locking mechanism is in the closed state, an opening movement on the part of the release lever causes the pawl to be lifted from its latching engagement with the rotary latch. The spring-loaded rotary latch then opens and releases a previously caught locking bolt. The associated motor vehicle door and the relevant motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock can be opened.

As a rule, a sensor that queries the safety lever is provided. This sensor can be used to query the respective position and position of the safety lever in the sense of "unlocked" or "secured". In the simplest case, the sensor is a switch that is acted upon, for example, via a contour on the safety lever.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of particular importance, a shift lever is implemented in addition to the storage lever. The shift lever is generally elastically coupled to the storage lever via a spring. In this way, when the storage lever assumes the storage position, the spring elastically coupling the two levers ensures that the switching lever ultimately follows the storage lever that is in its storage position and remains temporarily. As a result, during the second stroke of the actuating lever, the actuating lever follows the accumulator lever that is in the storage position, and the actuating lever can thereby act on the shift lever. There about it

Moreover, in this position, the shift lever usually rests against the release lever with a stop contour interacting with the release lever, the second stroke of the actuating lever is transferred to the release lever, which opens the locking mechanism as desired - as described. For this purpose, the shift lever, the storage lever and the release lever are usually and advantageously mounted coaxially with one another and rotatably. That is, the three aforementioned levers have a common axis for their rotary movement.

As a result, a motor vehicle locking device is made available that still requires two-stroke actuation in order to be able to open the locking mechanism, even if the additionally provided safety lever and consequently a corresponding safety unit assumes its “unlocked” position. As a result, there is no difference for an operator with regard to the actuation of the motor vehicle locking device according to the invention as to whether the safety lever is additionally implemented or not. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The invention is then explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that merely represents an exemplary embodiment; show it:

Figures 1 to 6, the motor vehicle locking device according to the invention with the "secured" transferred to its position safety lever and

FIGS. 7 to 14 the relevant motor vehicle locking device with the safety lever remaining in the “unlocked” position.

The figures show a motor vehicle locking device which initially has a locking mechanism 1 consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl. In FIG. 1, the locking mechanism 1 is in a closed state, in which the pawl engages in the catch in a latching manner. In contrast, FIG. 14 shows an opening process of the locking mechanism 1, which corresponds to the locking mechanism 1 being acted upon with the aid of a release lever 2. For this purpose, it is necessary for the release lever 2 to pivot in a clockwise direction about its axis 3, as can be understood by comparing FIGS.

The basic structure of the motor vehicle locking device includes a clutch arrangement 2, 4, which is composed of the release lever 2 already mentioned on the one hand and an actuating lever 4 on the other hand. For this purpose, the actuating lever 4 is mounted so as to be rotatable about its own further axis of rotation 5 spaced apart from the axis 3 . In addition and essentially, a safety lever 6 is then realized, which is mounted so that it can rotate about an axis 7 and can be acted upon with the aid of an electric motor drive 8 . This corresponds to rotary movements of the safety lever 6 about its axis 7 in the clockwise direction, as can be understood by comparing FIGS. This is accompanied by a change in the functional position of the safety lever 6. In Figures 1 and 7 and the subsequent Figures 8 to 14 (in which the safety lever 6 is not shown), this is in its “unlocked” position, whereas the safety lever 6 occupies its “secured” position in each of FIGS.

For this purpose, the safety lever 6 is equipped with a stop contour 6a, which interacts with the electric motor drive 8 or from

this is applied. In fact, the transition from the "unlocked" position of the safety lever 6 according to Fig. 1 to the "secured" position as shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to the electric motor drive 8 performing a more or less pronounced linear movement and thus over the Stop contour 6a pivots the safety lever 6 clockwise about its axis 7 as desired. As an alternative to the electric motor drive 8, the described pivoting movement of the safety lever 6 can also be carried out manually using a handle through a corresponding interaction with the stop contour 6a, although this is not shown in detail.

A storage lever 9 can also be seen, which can interact with an additionally provided latching element 10 . For this purpose, the storage lever 9 and the latching element 10 have corresponding and interlocking latching elements 9a, 10a. The latching elements 9a, 10a only interact if the latching element 10 assumes its latching position shown in FIG from FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 can be traced. The storage lever 9 assumes the storage position shown in FIG. 9.

If, on the other hand, the latching element 10 assumes its release position, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 2, there is no latching interaction between the two latching elements 9a, 10a. In order to transfer the latching element 10 from its latching position as shown in FIG. 1 to the release position, for example according to FIG. In addition

the safety lever 6 has a driving contour 6b, which is used to act on the latching element 10.

Finally, the figures also show a sensor 11 which, according to the exemplary embodiment and not by way of limitation, is a switch. The sensor 11 or switch may be connected to a control unit, not shown, which is not only set up to query the position of the safety lever 6 via the sensor 11 but also serves to control the electric motor drive 8 . The position of the safety lever 6 is queried using the sensor or switch 11 in such a way that the safety lever 6 has a switching contour 6c shown in the detail in Fig. 1, which has a spring belonging to the sensor or switch 11 and thus the sensor or switch 11 applied when the safety lever 6 changes from its “unlocked” position as shown in FIG. 1 to the “secured” position according to FIG. 2, as can be understood from the respective excerpts there.

Of particular importance for the invention is the fact that the actuating lever 4 and the release lever 2 not only define the clutch arrangement 2, 4 already described, but also the actuating lever 4 and the release lever 2 starting from a disengaged basic position shown in FIG a two-stroke actuation of the actuation lever 2, which is to be described in detail below, can be coupled to one another, as can ultimately be understood from FIGS. 13 and 14. The procedure is such that first the storage lever 9 storing the first stroke of the actuating lever 4 is provided. That is, the first stroke of the operating lever 4 ensures that the storage lever 9 moves into its storage position, as shown in FIGS. In this way, the actuating lever 4 in its second stroke to the

Apply storage lever 9 following release lever 2, as can be understood from FIG. 14 thereafter.

According to the invention, the safety lever 9 is now also provided, which in its "secured" position shown in Figures 2 to 6 prevents the previously described subsequent movement of the release lever 2 during the second stroke of the actuating lever 4 and allows it in its "unlocked" position, as the sequence of figures in Figures 10 to 14 makes clear.

The fact that a shift lever 12 is implemented in addition to the safety lever 6 and the storage lever 9 is also of particular importance. The shift lever 12 is coupled to the storage lever 9 via a spring 13 . In addition, the shift lever 12 has a stop contour 12a that interacts with the release lever 2 . In addition, another stop contour 12b is realized on the shift lever 12, which is described below. As soon as the stop contour 12a of the shift lever 12 comes into engagement with the release lever 2, as shown in the sequence of figures 11 to 14, the release lever 2 can be pivoted clockwise about its axis 3 using the actuating lever 4 and is able to release the locking mechanism 1 to open. It can be seen that, according to the exemplary embodiment, the shift lever 12 , the storage lever 9 and finally the release lever 2 are mounted on the same axis as one another and each can be rotated about the common axis 3 .

How it works is as follows. In Fig. 1, the locking mechanism 1 assumes its closed state. The safety lever 6 is in the "unlocked" position. If now, starting from Fig. 1, the electric motor drive 8 is acted upon in such a way that it performs a linear movement from left to right, the electric motor drive 8 ensures via the stop contour 6a on the safety lever 6 that the safety lever 6

is pivoted about its axis 7 in the clockwise direction during the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. The result of this is that the safety lever 6 actuates the sensor or switch 11 via its switching contour 6c, so that the assumption of the “secured” position by the safety lever 6 is transmitted to the control unit, which is not shown. Since the safety lever 6 is pivoted clockwise about the axis 7 during this process, the driving contour 6b on the safety lever 6 also ensures that the locking element 10 also pivots clockwise during the transition from FIG. 1 to FIG. As a result, the latching contour 10a on the latching element 10 cannot subsequently interact with the associated latching contour 9a on the storage lever 9 .

This becomes clear in the transition from FIG. 2 to FIG. Here the actuating lever 4 has been acted upon in such a way that it performs a counterclockwise movement about its axis 5 during the transition from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 . As a result, the actuating lever 4 can increasingly act on the accumulator lever 9, as can be understood as this movement continues, starting from FIG. 3 to FIG. During this pivoting movement of storage lever 9, in the functional position according to FIG.

As a consequence of this, if the actuating lever 4 is no longer acted upon during the transition from FIG. 4 to FIG Actuating lever 4 follows, as can be understood as the movement continues from FIG. 5 to FIG. In Fig. 6 has the

1, with the only difference being that the safety lever 6 is still in its “secured” position in the functional position of FIG. In this “secured” position of the safety lever 6, actuations of the actuating lever 4 consequently result in an idle movement in relation to the locking mechanism 1. So it won't open.

During the transition from Fig. 6 to Fig. 7, the electric motor drive 8 was acted upon in such a way that it performs a linear movement to the left, so that as a result of this, the safety lever 6 is pivoted back about its axis 7 in the counterclockwise direction via the stop contour 6a on the safety lever 6 and now assumes the “unlocked” position already assumed in FIG. 1 again.

If now, starting from the “unlocked” position of the safety lever 6 according to FIG. 7, the actuating lever 4 is again subjected to a first stroke, in such a way that the actuating lever 4 performs the previously described counterclockwise movement about its axis 5, this is what happens Now, in the transition from FIG. 7 to FIG. 8 and further to FIG. 9, the storage lever 9 in the functional position of FIG. 9 is transferred to the storage position already mentioned. In this storage position, the two latching contours 9a, 10a engage on the one hand on the latching element 10 and on the other hand on the storage lever 9. As a result, the accumulator lever 9 is held in its functional position according to FIG. 9, even when the actuation of the actuating lever 4 ends.

This corresponds to the fact that the actuating lever 4 (spring-loaded) moves clockwise around its axis 5, starting from the position in FIG

is reset, as can be understood in the transition to FIG. Since the accumulator lever 9 assumes and maintains its accumulator position unchanged during the transition from FIG. 9 to FIG. This becomes clear in the transition from FIG. 10 to FIG. This trailing of the shift lever 12 in relation to the storage lever 9 results in the shift lever 12 being pivoted clockwise about the common axis 3 with the aid of the spring 13, as can be understood in the transition from FIG. 10 to FIG. As a result, the shift lever 12 comes into the engagement area of the operating lever 4.

If the actuating lever 4, starting from the functional position according to FIG 12 can interact. The interaction of the actuating lever 4 with the switching lever 12 during the transition from Fig. 12 to Fig. 13 now has the result that the switching lever 12 is pivoted about its axis 3 in the clockwise direction and the stop contour 12a on the switching lever 12 hits the release lever 2 works and takes it with you with regard to the clockwise movement of the shift lever 12 about the common axis 3 . This process can be followed in the transition from FIG. 12 to FIG.

The clockwise movement of the release lever 2 about the axis 3 now has the result that during the further transition from FIG. 12 to FIG. 13 to FIG became.

At the same time, during this process and at the end of the second stroke of the operating lever 4, when there is a transition from FIG. 13 to FIG that at the end of this two-stroke actuation, the storage lever 9 is released from the latching element 10 by the loading of the storage lever 9 . If now, based on the representation in Figure 14 and after the two-stroke actuation of the actuating lever 4, the actuating lever 4 is released and (spring-loaded) returns to its starting position, this means that, based on the representation in Figure 14, the functional position according to 7 and thus the initial position before the two-stroke actuation or the rest position is reached, specifically with the safety lever 6 still in its “unlocked” position.

The further stop contour 12b on the shift lever 12, which has already been mentioned, may additionally ensure that the latching contours 9a, 10a are detached from one another. A (spring-assisted) resetting of the release lever 2 starting from the open position of the locking mechanism 1 according to FIG. 14 leads to a counterclockwise rotation of the release lever 2 about the axis 3. The switching lever 12 and thus also the storage lever 9 may be carried along via the stop contour 12b become. The locking contours 9a, 10a solve this. reference list

Lock release lever axis

Actuating lever, 4 clutch arrangement (rotary) axis Safety lever a stop contour b driving contour c switching contour

Axis electromotive drive storage lever a latching contour 0 latching element 0a latching contour 1 switch 2 shift lever 2a stop contour 3 spring

Claims

Patent Claims:

1. Motor vehicle locking device, with a coupling arrangement (2, 4) consisting essentially of an actuating lever (4) and a release lever (2) that can be detachably coupled thereto, the actuating lever (4) and the release lever (2) starting from a disengaged basic position a two-stroke actuation of the actuating lever (4) can be coupled to one another, and a storage lever (9) storing the first stroke of the actuating lever (4) is provided, so that the actuating lever (4) releases the release lever (2nd ) can act on it, because a safety lever (6) is additionally provided which, in its "secured" position, prevents a subsequent movement of the release lever (2) during the second stroke of the actuating lever (4) and allows it in its "unlocked" position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety lever (6) interacts with a latching element (10) which is set up to realize a releasable storage position of the storage lever (9).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the securing lever (6) has a driving contour (6b) for acting on the latching element (10).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the securing lever (6) via the driving contour (6b) the latching element (10) from a storage position of the storage lever (9) allowing latching positions

into a release position preventing the storage position and vice versa.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the safety lever (6) has a stop contour (6a) for interaction with a handle and / or an electric motor drive (8).

6. Device one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the safety lever (6) interrogating sensor (11) is provided.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in addition to the storage lever (9) a shift lever (12) is realized.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the switching lever (12) is coupled to the storage lever (9) via a spring (13).

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the switching lever (12) has at least one stop contour (12a, 12b) interacting with the release lever (2).

10. Device according to claim 7 to 9, characterized in that the shift lever (12), the storage lever (9) and the release lever (2) are mounted on the same axis as one another and are rotatable.